The Cubs make the ‘long’ trip from Mesa to Surprise today for the first time this spring to take on the Rangers. The Cubs and Rangers square off three more times in the Cactus League after today. The two teams play a pair of split squad games in Las Vegas on March 16 and March 17 at Cashman Field in the Annual Big League Weekend … and the Cubs host Texas on March 19.

Hisanori Takahashi gets the ball at the start of the game this afternoon. The Cubs are looking to stretch out Takahashi to possibly use him as a long-man, as well as a second lefty out of the pen when the season begins. Jeff Samardzija will stay on schedule and pitch in a minor league game today.

With Takahashi starting the exhibition game, this afternoon figures to be a bullpen day for the Cubs.

Junior Lake and Javier Baez are expected to be in the starting lineup … Lake in centerfield and Baez at shortstop.

The Cubs’ offense has not been able to string together any hits of late, and it will not get any easier with lefty Robbie Ross on the hill for the Rangers. Ross is battling for the fifth spot in the Rangers rotation.

Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie will call the action on Cubs.com.

This afternoon it all starts with Hisanori Takahashi …

Hisanori Takahashi makes his fourth appearance of the spring this afternoon. Takahashi has been more than serviceable over his first three games. In four innings, Takahashi has allowed one runs on three hits with a walk and one strikeout. Takahashi knows how to pitch, and appears to have the inside track to break camp on the 25-man roster.

Robbie Ross makes his first start and third appearance of the spring this afternoon. Ross has allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and one strikeout over five innings of work. Ross was very good out of the pen last year. Ross was 6-0 in 58 appearances with a 2.22 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP … and the Rangers feel their second round pick in the 2008 draft can make the transition from the pen to the rotation.